The short answer
Internet television simply means watching TV over your home broadband instead of a cable line or satellite dish. In Canada, the easiest all-in-one way to do it is IPTV — a single subscription that streams 50,000+ live channels and 160,000+ on-demand titles to any device. For the technical basics, see what is IPTV.
The Cord-Cutting Shift in Canada
For decades, a cable or satellite subscription was simply part of life in Canada. That has changed fast. The average household television bill now sits well above CA$100 per month once you add channel packages, equipment rental and the inevitable price hikes — and many families pay closer to CA$150–200 once sports and premium tiers are bundled in.
Canadians are leaving in record numbers. The reasons are consistent: bills that climb every year, two-year contracts that lock you in, paying for hundreds of channels you never watch, and a clunky box that only works in one room. Meanwhile, fast broadband is now in nearly every home — so the cable line started to look like an expensive habit rather than a necessity.
The math is the heart of the movement. Cutting the cord and replacing it with internet television typically takes a household from CA$120+ a month down to CA$25–60, depending on the mix of services. Over a year that is often CA$800–1,200 in savings — with more flexibility, not less. That is the promise of cord-cutting, and the rest of this guide shows you how to get there.
The Internet-Television Landscape
"Internet TV" is not one thing — it is a handful of different pieces that each solve part of the puzzle. Understanding how they fit together is the key to building a setup you will actually be happy with.
Streaming apps (SVOD)
Netflix, Crave, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video. Huge on-demand libraries, but mostly no live TV and no live sports. You typically need several to cover everything.
Live-TV apps / vMVPDs
App-based skinny bundles that stream live channels over the internet. More flexible than cable but still limited channel counts and rising prices.
Free over-the-air (OTA)
A free antenna pulls in local broadcast channels — CBC, CTV, Global — in your area. Great as a free supplement, but limited to a handful of local channels.
IPTV — the all-in-one
One channel-rich subscription that combines live TV, live sports, French and international channels and a massive VOD library in a single app. The closest single replacement for a full cable package.
| Option | Typical cost | Live TV? | Live sports? | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming apps (Netflix/Crave) | CA$6–20/mo each | Mostly no | Very limited | On-demand only |
| Live-TV apps / vMVPDs | CA$25–70/mo | Yes | Some, add-ons | 40–150 |
| Free over-the-air antenna | Free (one-time gear) | Yes (local) | Local games only | 5–20 |
| Cable / satellite | CA$80–200/mo | Yes | Yes, premium tiers | 100–500 |
| IPTV (ApolloGroupTV) | From CA$25/mo | Yes | Yes, all-in | 50,000+ |
Want the on-demand side covered too? See our roundup of the best streaming services in Canada and how to pair them with IPTV in our complete IPTV Canada guide.
What You Need for Internet TV
Switching to internet television takes three things: an internet connection fast enough for the quality you want, a device to watch on, and an app to bring the content in. None of it requires a technician visit.
Broadband speed tiers
| Speed | Good for |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | Smooth HD streaming on one device |
| 25 Mbps | 4K UHD streaming on one device |
| 50 Mbps | Multiple devices streaming HD/4K at once |
| 100 Mbps+ | A whole household streaming, gaming and browsing together |
Devices that work
- ✓Smart TV: Samsung, LG, Sony or any Android TV — install an IPTV app straight onto the TV. See our Android TV setup guide.
- ✓Amazon Firestick: The most popular cord-cutting device in Canada — cheap, plugs into any HDMI port, and runs every major IPTV app.
- ✓Android TV box: A dedicated streaming box that turns any TV into a smart TV, with full app support and reliable performance.
- ✓Phone or tablet: iPhone, iPad or Android — watch on the go, or cast to your big screen.
- ✓An IPTV app: TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro or GSE Smart IPTV ties it all together. Sign in once with your subscription details and start watching.
Device guides: IPTV on Firestick · IPTV on Android TV · Best IPTV box
Building Your Cord-Cutting Setup
Follow this roadmap and you can be fully cut over from cable in an afternoon.
- 1
Audit what you actually watch
List the channels and shows you genuinely use. Most households watch far fewer than they pay for — usually live sports, news, a few networks and some movies.
- 2
Confirm your internet speed
Run a quick speed test. If you have 25 Mbps or more, you are ready for 4K. Most Canadian plans already qualify — no upgrade needed.
- 3
Pick a device
A Firestick or Android TV box is the simplest starting point and costs less than a single month of cable. Your existing Smart TV may already do the job.
- 4
Choose an IPTV service
Pick a service that covers your channels, sports and languages in one app. ApolloGroupTV bundles 50,000+ live channels and 160,000+ VOD from CA$25/month with no contract.
- 5
Set up and test with a free trial
Install the app, sign in with your details, and run a free 24-hour trial before you commit. Once you are happy, cancel the cable line and pocket the savings.
Why IPTV Is the Cord-Cutter's Shortcut
The honest catch with cord-cutting is that piecing it together from separate apps can get expensive and fragmented — one app for movies, another for sports, an antenna for local channels, and you are still missing something. IPTV collapses all of that into one subscription.
- ✓Replaces multiple subscriptions: Instead of stacking five streaming bills, one IPTV plan covers live TV, sports and a 160,000+ title on-demand library.
- ✓Live sports without add-ons: NHL, NFL, NBA, soccer and PPV events are built in — no premium sports tier to bolt on.
- ✓French and international channels: TVA, French-language and global channels sit alongside your English networks in the same guide.
- ✓One app on every screen: The same login works on your TV, Firestick, box, phone and tablet — watch anywhere, no extra hardware.
That is why, for most Canadian cord-cutters, IPTV is the single piece that does the most heavy lifting. You can pair it with a streaming app or two for extra originals, but the channels-and-sports core that used to require cable now lives in one place — at a fraction of the price.
Internet Television & Cord-Cutting FAQ
What is internet television?
Internet television is any TV content delivered over a broadband connection instead of a cable line or satellite dish. It includes streaming apps like Netflix and Crave, live-TV apps, and IPTV services. In Canada, IPTV is the most channel-rich form of internet television because it bundles live channels, live sports and on-demand movies into one app.
Is IPTV the same as cord-cutting?
Not quite. Cord-cutting is the act of cancelling cable or satellite and replacing it with internet-delivered services. IPTV is one of the main tools you use to do it — and the closest single replacement for a full cable package, since one ApolloGroupTV subscription covers 50,000+ live channels and 160,000+ on-demand titles with no contract.
What internet speed do I need to cut the cord?
At least 10 Mbps for smooth HD and 25 Mbps or more for 4K UHD. If several people stream at once, aim for 50 Mbps or higher. Most Canadian broadband plans already exceed these numbers, so cutting the cord rarely requires an internet upgrade.
Can internet TV replace cable completely?
Yes. With a solid broadband connection and an IPTV service, you can replace cable entirely — including live sports, news, French-language and international channels. IPTV delivers the live channels cable is known for, and you can add a streaming app or two for extra originals. Together they replace cable while saving most households CA$70+ per month.
What devices work with IPTV?
Almost any internet-connected device: Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Android TV), Amazon Firestick, Android TV boxes, MAG boxes, iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, plus Windows PCs and Macs. Install an app like TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro, sign in, and start watching.
Keep building your cord-cutting setup: Complete IPTV Canada guide · Best streaming services in Canada · Best IPTV box · Free IPTV trial
Cut the Cord in Canada — Try It Free
ApolloGroupTV — 50,000+ live channels, NHL, NFL, NBA, all PPV, plus French and international channels and 160,000+ VOD in 4K UHD. From CA$25/month. No contract. Free 24-hour trial via WhatsApp.
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